[Illustration: FOUR CURIOUSLY SPOTTED BRONCHOS] The Rambler Club’s Aeroplane BY W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD AUTHOR OF “THE RAMBLER CLUB AFLOAT” “THE RAMBLER CLUB’S WINTER CAMP” “THE RAMBLER CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS” “THE RAMBLER CLUB ON CIRCLE T RANCH” “THE RAMBLER CLUB AMONG THE LUMBERJACKS” “THE RAMBLER CLUB’S GOLD MINE” “THE RAMBLER CLUB’S HOUSE-BOAT” Illustrated by the Author [Illustration] THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA MCMXII COPYRIGHT 1912 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY Introduction The five boys belonging to the “Rambler Club,” together with Cranny Beaumont and his father’s ward, Willie Sloan, have made a trip to Wyoming. They find that since their last visit to Border City the town has undergone a great change, and is still in the midst of a true Western boom. To add to the interest, a New York financier is carrying on experiments with a dirigible balloon. At Circle T Ranch the lads meet some of their old friends among the cowboys. This story tells how the Ramblers came into possession of an aeroplane. Willie Sloan is an odd little chap, rather difficult to understand, and is not altogether pleased with life on the plains. His presence among the crowd is largely responsible for their unexpected and startling adventures, in several of which the Border City aeronaut and his dirigible balloon figure prominently. As an aviator, Bob Somers finds that all his coolness and skill are needed. The stay in Wyoming brings about quite an unexpected result for Willie Sloan. Other experiences of the same boys are told in “The Rambler Club Afloat,” “The Rambler Club’s Winter Camp,” “The Rambler Club in the Mountains,” “The Rambler Club on Circle T Ranch,” “The Rambler Club Among the Lumberjacks,” “The Rambler Club’s Gold Mine,” “The Rambler Club’s House-boat.” Contents I. A LETTER FROM BOB 9 II. WILLIE CANNOT HELP IT 19 III. CRANNY’S PLAN 32 IV. THE RAMBLERS ARRIVE 40 V. PREPARATIONS 54 VI. BORDER CITY ONCE MORE 64 VII. AT THE RANCH 79 VIII. AT LONE PINE 91 IX. IN THE AIR 104 X. BOB TAKES A FLIGHT 124 XI. THE DIRIGIBLE 136 XII. “HE’S A PUZZLE” 147 XIII. WILLIE SHOWS HIS NERVE 159 XIV. MILLING THE HERD 172 XV. THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGE 180 XVI. THE ASTONISHING WILLIAM 192 XVII. THE TWO IN THE SKY 209 XVIII. THE RESCUE PARTY 219 XIX. THE EAGLE 232 XX. OVER THE MOUNTAINS 241 XXI. ADRIFT 250 XXII. PRISONERS 270 XXIII. BY MOONLIGHT 281 XXIV. TO THE RESCUE 291 XXV. THE VISITORS 308 Illustrations